IPU Committee adopts resolution on national sovereignty, human rights

Updated: 11:47’ - 31/03/2015

On March 30, the Standing Committee on Democracy and Human Rights adopted the Resolution on international law relating to national sovereignty, non-intervention in each other's internal affairs, and human rights, as part of the agenda of the ongoing 132nd Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly (IPU-132).

Delegates at the Meeting of the Standing Committee on Democracy and Human Rights_Photo:ipu132vietnam.vn

“Vietnam has made significant contributions to the resolution drafting process at the previous session. International law must be strictly observed in international relations and must have correlation and compatibility with national sovereignty,” said Le Minh Thong, Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Committee for Legal Affairs.

The resolution covers the responsibility of all States to respect human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, sex, language or origin.

It also highlights the importance of the existing international legal instruments for women's rights and gender equality, including the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the United Nations Security Council resolutions on women, peace and security.

The resolution stresses that all States must respect international law and regard it as an instrument for settling conflicts. It also emphasizes the principle of national sovereignty, compatibility of international law with national sovereignty as well as all States’ affirmation of their right to make decisions on their own and combat intervention by others.

Particularly, the resolution affirms human rights and regards them as a fundamental element of present life. International law must always advocate people-centered development, emphasizing the rights of women, refugees and children. These are basic issues which all States should pay heed to when handling humans-related global issues.-